TZD Tuesday - Child Passenger Safety

Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, babysitter or relative, kids are out of school for the summer and may be frequenting your backseat more often for the next couple of months.

Although the busy school season comes to a halt in June, your life doesn’t slow down as you navigate summer activities and your work schedule. No matter the chaos, always be a responsible driver and care for your passengers.

• Don’t forget about them. Life gets busy but don’t forget passengers in the backseat. When the temperature hits 72 degrees outside, a vehicle can reach 117 degrees in just 60 minutes, resulting in heat exhaustion and death in some cases. More than half of vehicular heatstroke deaths nationwide occur when a child is forgotten while in a rear-facing car seat or sleeping in the backseat. Kids and Car Safety is urging drivers to look before they lock during these hot summer days. You can also learn more about vehicular heatstroke and prevention with these National Heatstroke Prevention Day resources.
• Teach them to be good passengers. Children can be distracting because they can get restless and start acting up. Model good behavior for them, provide mess-free activities to keep them quiet and teach them how to be respectful passengers.
• Buckle up, Buttercup! Make a habit of checking your passengers’ seat belts before you set out for the road.  Even if your passengers are close friends, their life is at risk and could cost you a hefty ticket.
• Use a proper car seat. Whether for pets or for children, using a proper car seat for their age, height and weight secures your passenger and maximizes safety. Plus, keeping animals restrained decreases distraction—and hair—in your vehicle!

For the safety of your kids and any other passenger, be a responsible driver by staying attentive, buckling up and ensuring they are placed in the correct restraint. You don’t want a day at the pool to turn tragic because of a hot car or an improper car seat.